“It’s not drinking alone if the dog is home” may have kept isolated pet owners afloat this past year. Now, there are reports of a tsunami of animal returns to shelters.
That's what the wiseheads expected, after all: To see those happy pandemic puppies coming back sadder but wiser a year later.
Well, it hasn't happened, according to the New York Times. The stats are quite different. In point of fact, fewer animals than usual were adopted last year -- 19 percent fewer, according to stats from PetPoint, which keeps track of 1100 U.S. shelters.
Sure, 80 percent more dogs were surrendered to shelters in April of this year than in April 2020, but the shelters were barely even open for business last spring. Just compare April 2021 to April 2019: 15,906 dogs surrendered this April. In April 2019, it was 20,289.
People have gotten attached to their pets. Out of 1,000 American cat and dog owners, 93 percent said their “pandemic pet” had improved their mental or physical well-being over the last year -- and more than 80 percent said it made working from home more enjoyable, according to a survey commissioned by Rover.com, a site listing private pet services.
The ASPCA also says that there's no big wave of pets being returned. The ASPCA brags a bit about that: They “continue to have conversations with adopters to ensure they are making good matches and that pets match their adopters’ lifestyles, even when those owners return to a post-pandemic schedule.”
No reason to weep here, folks. Fact is, the animals spurred a lifestyle change for a lot of people -- more walks and such -- and, well, you saw that 93 percent stat from Rover.com. Puppies have made America a better, happier place.
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